Tree holder



Nov. 1, 1932. KRUEGER 1,886,198

TREE HOLDER Filed March 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Zr I /KmNov- 1932- H. H. KRUEGER TREE HOLDER Filed March 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Nov. 1, 19 32 UNlT TREE HOLDER Application filed March 18,1931.

My invention relates to supporting devices and more especially treeholders.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improvedcollapsible holder or 55 supporting device of the character described.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved collapsibletree holder which is provided with improved tree clamping means.

A third object of the invention is to provide an improved tree holderthat is equipped with screw means for rigidly clamping the tree trunk inan upright position.

Still another object is to provide a device 15 of the characterdescribed which is freely collapsible and provided with clamping meansfor rigidly securing the tree in an upright position without cutting oraltering the tree trunk.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsibletree holder which is provided with stop means to place the various partsof the device in the proper juxtaposition and to permit ready collapse25 of the device.

Other objects of the invention are mentioned and described herein.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, 30 wherein Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved holdershowing the parts thereof in the spread or operative position;

Fig. 2 illustrates the device in the collapsed position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tree holder in the spread or operativeposition;

Fig. 1 illustrates two views of the clamp ing rod bracket;

Fig. illustrates a plan view of the clamping rod; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a similar view of a modification of the clamping rod.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews on the drawings.

Referring now to the details of the drawings the improved tree holdercomprises, generally, a strip metal forked twin leg 1, a single stripmetal leg 2, collapsibly hinged together Serial No. 523,422.

adjacent the upper termini of said legs, a collapsible forked spiderelement 3, and a clamping element or ring 4 carried by the leg 2. Thetwin leg 1 may be formed of a single strip of metal bent intermediateits extremities; upon itself tofform. aloop 5 and providing a pair offeet 6 and 7 at the lower extremities of the diverging furcations 8 and9, the latter convergingat the loop to form the upper seat for the treetrunk 10, as hereinafter described. As stated, the single leg 2 has itsupper terminus pivotally connected at 11 within the loop 5 of twin leg1, with ample clearance to permit inward collapse thereof, and may beprovided with the foot 12 at its lower end. 7 j

The forked collapsible spider element 3 may comprise the metal link 18pivotally connected with the leg 2 at 1% intermediate the extremities ofsaid leg, and may have also a pair of diverging link elements 15 and 16having their converging ends pivotally connected with the outer endof'link 13 at 17 and having their outer spaced ends pivotally connectedwith leg sections 8 and 9, of twin leg 1, at 18 and 19, respectively.Jlhe convergence of spider links 15 and 16 at 20 provides a V shapedopen seat for the tree trunk 10, said seat being arranged in alignmentwith the similar tree seat at- 21 and below the latter. 7 p I The trunkof the tree 10 transverses the clamping ring 4 which is arranged betweenthetwo seats 20 and 21 and may have its lower end disposed in awaterpan, as is well known in this art. The ring l is provided upon theouter end of the clamping rod 22 which is adjustably mounted in a Ushaped bracket 23 rigidly secured to leg 2 at 24, said rod beingadjustably arranged in a suitable aperture formed in leg 25 of saidbracket and loosely traversing an elongated aperture 26 formed in leg27of said bracket. A wing nut 28 is threaded upon the screw threadedsection 29 of rod 22 to enable longitudinal adjustment of the clamp ring4; to snugly draw the tree trunk into the V shaped seats 20 and 21. Fromthe foregoing it will be obvious that lateral movement or deflection ofthe clamping rod 22 is prevented by its engagement within the slot 26 ofthe lug or leg 27 on bracket 23, whereby swinging movement of the treetrunk is eliectually prevented, and whereby the efiectiveness of thetree holder unit is enhanced.

A stop block 30 is rigidly fastened to the leg 2 adjacent the bracket 23and may have its lower outer corner slightly rabbeted at 31, said blockbeing engageable by the spider link 13 when the tree holder unit isspread to the operative position, the rabbeted corner 31 enabling freemovement of the link 13 upon collapse of the holder unit, and when theholder is thus collapsed the rod 22 swings free and longitudinallywithin the slot 26 in leg 27 of the bracket 23. In Fig. 6 the rod 22 isprovided with a hook 32 instead of a ring 4 which may facilitate theintroduction of the tree trunk thereto.

I claim: 7

1. A collapsible holder of the character de scribed comprising elementsproviding a tripod structure the legs whereof have their upper terminipivotally connected together and providing a tree seat between two ofsaid legs, a collapsible spider element connecting the legs of saidtri-pod and providing a tree seat below the first mentioned seat, saidcollapsible spider comprising a plurality of links hinged together andalso hinged to the tripod legs and means for clamping a tree trunkwithin both of said tree seats.

2. A collapsible holder of the character described comprising elementsproviding a tripod structure, the legs whereof have their upper terminipivotally connected together and providing a tree seat between two ofsaid legs, a collapsible spider element connecting the legs of saidtripod and providing a tree seat below the first mentioned seat, saidcollapsible spider comprising three centrally converging links hingedtogether at their point of convergence, said links having their outerends hingedly connected with the tripod legs and screw actuated meansarranged between said tree seats for clamping a tree trunk within saidtree seats.

3. A collapsible holder of the character described comprising a twin legand a single leg hingedly connected together adjacent their uppertermini, a collapsible spider connecting said legs, said spidercomprising a plurality of links one of which is pivotally connected withsaid single leg, means for clamping a tree trunk within said twin legand into snug relation with said spider, and stop means to maintain saidholder elements in operative position, said stop means being mountedupon said single leg and so formed to permit free movement of saidspider elements upon collapse of the holder unit.

HARVEY H. KRUEGER.

